Netflix’s Major Problem

Sense8. One Day At A Time. Everything Sucks. Tuca and Bertie. The Get Down. You might have seen a show you love here, and if so, you’ll recognise the pattern – they’re all excellent shows with wide viewership that were cancelled by Netflix.

All of these shows featured diverse casting and representation as well as being excellent and well made. They were relatable to many people who watched them because of this. They featured diversity in front of and behind the camera which helped to make them so authentic.

For example, Tuca and Bertie was made by a woman, which is incredibly rare for adult animation, and the show portrayed women in such a realistic way. I really related to both of the protagonists because they were written so well. Tuca’s feelings of inadequacy and thoughts that she was depending too much on Bertie, and Bertie’s breakdown at the grocery store, were both things I’d felt and experienced.

The problem is, shows like this are always the ones being cancelled. But what are Netflix using their money to create? Shows like 13 Reasons Why, which has been pulled apart so many times flawed because of its triggering scenes and disregard of mental health, no matter how much the creators say it’s trying to “spread awareness”. As well as 13RW, there’s Riverdale, which has less explicitly problematic elements but is so badly written I can’t watch it without physically recoiling. You’d think with all that money they’re spending on it, they could afford some better writers!

Although there is an audience for Riverdale who will lap up any garbage given to them by Netflix and the CW, I haven’t seen any sort of fanbase for 13RW. The only times I ever see it mentioned is when people call out how terrible it is. However, shows like ODAAT had very committed fanbases, which was shown by the outpouring of support and calls for renewal after it was cancelled, which led to it being picked up by Pop TV.

Netflix’s major problem is that it’s focusing on renewing and promoting the wrong shows. Another example is Queer Eye, an LGBT show that is highly promoted – because it has a large straight audience. Other LGBT shows are left alone and recommendations can only be spread by word of mouth. Shows that have been cancelled are so much better in quality, but because of a lack of promotion are often ignored by viewers. This is not the shows’ fault. They should not be cancelled for this.

Yes, this entire post was written because I’m pissed that Netflix cancelled Tuca and Bertie recently. However, this led me to noticing the disturbing trend I’ve been talking about. The truth is, all these shows feature minorities behind and in front of the camera, and they are all being cancelled. Their portrayals were relatable for these minority groups, which is what makes it so sad. All of these shows deserve better than Netflix. They deserve better than the current TV industry.